|
|
Post by gravityvideo on Mar 22, 2020 22:51:12 GMT -6
This week I have learned a lot personally from my online sales.
1. I had more than 50% of my orders come from NY, CA, and IL which are "stay at home" order states.
2. I created a coupon for customers I know are in those states and saw a few big orders.
3. I've never had a customer ask me where I ship from. This week I had 3.
4. I've decided to setup an upgraded shipping option (Media mail is slow) because I am nervous about an outbreak at USPS slowing down deliveries.
5. I have given "bonuses" to customers as a thank you for continuing to shop. My bonuses are screener copy movies, discs without artwork, etc.
6. I have been able to find great deals on more inventory through auctions because people are spending less.
What have you learned?
|
|
|
|
Post by PickyChicky on Mar 23, 2020 9:48:54 GMT -6
Well, I wouldn't say I've really learned anything, but I do have mixed emotions, seeing the good, the bad and the ugly in it all (mostly the ugly, unfortunately, and that's what's scaring me). It just makes sense to provide what people are looking for. There have been many reports of people's sales soaring or being unaffected, so that's positive news. I'm not sure what they sell, except one did mention their collectibles are selling well. It's also good to see companies like Stamps.com working with small businesses, like FBA sellers, to get their shipments out. I wouldn't be surprised if a class-action lawsuit against Amazon comes from this. That right there is the very reason a marketplace site should NOT be allowed to compete with their customers. They have essentially used a crisis situation to cut out most of their competition and they are one of the biggest online competitors on the globe -- perfect way to corner the internet market during a time when at least most everyone is shopping online more. Especially when you consider how many product ideas they've stolen from their customers who are now unable to send in their shipments of their own products. Talk about monopolizing. What are they going to say for themselves if this turns out to be overly hyped up? You know people are getting tested and cases are being reported, although not all, so where are the numbers that shout crisis? If there were significantly more people actually getting sick from this virus, it would be known in the hospitals already. So, basically, all the hoopla has been over something that hasn't even been proven a crisis other than the fact that we are completely unprepared for one. What better way to freak people out than to tell them that "it's coming...it's here... brace yourselves because we're completely unprepared, so treat each other like the plague if you want to live."
Freak them out and it really does become a crisis, doesn't it? Was it their intent to make them freak out? That's what's bothering me because the reaction to this is unreal and seemingly unwarranted. Quite frankly, I think the millennials have been watching too many zombie apocalypse movies, which, according to my nephew, they really do believe could happen. Are they making their own fears come true?
|
|
|
|
Post by PickyChicky on Mar 23, 2020 10:52:24 GMT -6
Sorry if I didn't entirely stay on topic there. It's just been too much for me and, no, I'm not talking about the virus, itself. I don't know how much time I have left on this planet and I've been trying to prepare. Now I have this wrench thrown into my plans that has me rethinking everything. So, I've gone from rethinking my original plans to prepare to rethinking what I've rethought in light of current events and it's overwhelming (my head is spinning). My eCrater shop is still dead as a door nail and I'm not holding my breath for any improvement even when I do start getting those media items listed. Since I've already been planning on monetizing my two Blogger blogs, I'm thinking of seeing if any improvements have been made (by either Google or PayPal) that would allow me to more easily list my items there. While working on my blog last night, I even had the thought that I could create a "blog article" for each product. It would basically be like a listing with a PayPal button to purchase. So, I am considering other options just in case no improvements have been made. I really don't want to resort to taking them offsite to purchase the item elsewhere (ie, linking to my eCrater shop), so we'll see as I'm about to head there now to check it all out.  |
|
.jpg)
